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Dried up lake in the south of Iran (archive picture): Time and again, the country struggles with water shortages
Photo: Ahmad Halabisaz / picture alliance / Photoshot
Iran repeatedly reports the arrest of alleged spies.
According to state media, Iranian security forces have now allegedly discovered a network of agents of the Israeli secret service.
Several spies were reportedly arrested.
The suspects are accused of acting on behalf of the secret service from warring Israel.
The security forces also confiscated an arsenal.
According to reports, the weapons and ammunition stored there should have been used to fuel the recent unrest in the country.
"Mossad agents have planned to use the weapons in the street protests and assassinations," an Iranian official is quoted as saying in the state media.
He did not disclose details of the arrests.
Israel has not yet commented.
Government fears protests could spread
For a good two weeks there have been protests against water shortages in several cities.
There were also clashes with the police, for which Tehran blames "rioters and counter-revolutionary terrorists".
According to official information, at least two demonstrators and one police officer were killed and dozens injured.
According to local eyewitnesses, however, the number of dead and injured is much higher.
There are also said to have been several arrests after the demonstrators shouted slogans critical of the regime.
There are fears within the Iranian government that the protests could get out of hand and spread further in the country.
Tehran repeatedly accuses enemies from abroad, such as Israel, the USA and Saudi Arabia, of wanting to destabilize the country by stirring up protests and violence.
Security forces also allegedly blamed armed dissidents for the escalation of the recent street protests.
They are said to have provoked clashes.
fek / asc / AP / Reuters / dpa